One million pageviews

I just realised that the pageviews to this blog have surpassed ONE MILLION! 1,023,645 pageviews to be exact. Here's some gobledegook on the technical jargons which I seriously will give a miss. For one who isn't IT savvy, am one happy gal :) Thanks to one and all for visiting. There's a lot more to share but time is always the hurdle...thanks a zillion :)

The official definitions according to Google:

(credit:  http://www.webproductblog.com/web-analytics/pageviews-vs-visits-vs-visitors/)

• Pageviews:

  A pageview is defined as a view of a page on your site that is being tracked by the Analytics tracking code. If a visitor hits reload after reaching the page, this will be counted as an additional pageview.
  If a user navigates to a different page and then returns to the original page, a second pageview will be recorded as well.

• Visits:

  Visits represent the number of individual sessions initiated by all the visitors to your site. If a user is inactive on your site for 30 minutes or more, any future activity will be attributed to a new session. Users that leave your site and return within 30 minutes will be counted as part of the original session.

• Visitors:

  The initial session by a user during any given date range is considered to be an additional visit and an additional visitor. Any future sessions from the same user during the selected time period are counted as additional visits, but not as additional visitors.

  
  

The Thinking Teacher

Friday's Date With PS

Date: 24th February 2012 (Friday)

Venue: Khalifah Hall

Time: 7.00-7.20 a.m

Our first public-speaking programme was carried out last Friday. It was well-conducted by Nurul Syafawani (4 Al Ghazali and President of ELS) and Izzati (4 As Syafie and Treasurer) from the English Language Society. Thanks girls! The principal agreed that it will be held once a fortnight alternately with the 'Tazkirah" programme by Persatuan Agama Islam. Mr Adnan, our HEM was in the hall early in the morning to help organise the students. 

The principal, Mr Mohd Noh Mohd Yusof, was given the honour of selecting the first lucky five names 

from a box. Students' names were cut and jumbled up in a box to be picked only on the day itself. This way, everyone had to be prepared. (Thanks Rozilla, the Head of the English Panel, for the colourful and attractive names) Since this was our first session, the speakers were really NERVOUS... And despite the two weeks given to all students,  I was disappointed that the most of them were not well-prepared and were too dependent on the their texts. In my review, I emphasised that they have to be well-prepared for the next session. Notes are encouraged but please, no public reading! I know that there are many of you Sasemians who are talented and can give a good speech. You can also volunteer if you want to. Just submit your names to me and I will fix the week for your turn.

The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step...

Four students were interviewed by Azhar (great job thanks!) and these were their comments:

Student A (From 4 girl) 

Students were not prepared. Since this is the launching, it's not very good. I hope they will be better prepared in the next session.

Student B (Form 4 boy)

This programme is very good to make us brave to speak in front of an audience. I think the speakers did ok today but I hope they will be better prepared the next session.

Student C (Form 4 boy)

This programme will heighten our confidence level and gives us the chance to improve our writing, grammar, vocabulary and speaking ability

Student D (Form 2 girl)

I learn to prepare for something new. I never had public speaking before. I can improve my English and communication. They were a bit nervous and not prepared but I think it's ok as this is our first session.

Thanks to Azhar for taping the session and to all teachers in the English panel for their enthusiasm and support. Many thanks to all other teachers who came to the session too (Mr Adnan, HEM, Head of Languages, Cik Mariana, GPK Koku, Mr Siddiq, both counselors and others). Let's hope for a more vibrant session a fortnight from now :)

Installation of Prefects

Congratulations to the prefects on their installation recently. And thank you Mariana for a short and sweet session :)  All the best to the newly appointed prefects. Make Sasem proud!

From left: Mr Mohd Siddiq (GPK Koku), Mr Adnan (GPK HEM), Mr Mohd Noh (Principal) and Mr Basir (GPK Curicullum)

Ms Mariana Najmudin, Head of Languages

Proud prefects :)

The Thinking Teacher

The Railway Children, Edith Nesbit

I've read the original version of the novel and fell in love with the story for its simple plot but excellent moral values.  Hence I've decided to teach this novel in my school. The abridged version is unavailable in Johor but if you have friends from Perak, you can always ask for their help to buy you a copy.

The original 'The Railway Children' as a comparison or easy reading can be downloaded here: 

http://www.classicreader.com/book/424/






The Thinking Teacher

Fully Residential Schools International Symposium (FRSIS) 2012

I wanted so much to be involved in internationalisation programmes with students but my previous school did not have such programmes. This was one of the reasons why I'm now in my new school.  Surprisingly, the opportunity presented itself recently. A friend promised to put in a word for me to be a part of a similar programme in the state but am still waiting for any news till now. Hence, this was a pleasant surprise indeed.

Background of FRSIS 
(courtesy MOZAC)

 

FRS International Symposium or Fully Residential Schools International Symposium is a program organized by the Ministry of Education Malaysia. This program is in line with the vision of the Fully Residential Schools (FRS) of Malaysia in producing World Class Leaders.

This program was first successfully held from 9th - 14th September 2011 in Johor, Malaysia. The participants were students aged 16 to 19 years old from all residential schools in Malaysia and other countries such as India, Japan, Singapore, Italy, Korea and Thailand. The program is seen to be able to highlight the quality of students' leadership in organizing international programs. This is evidenced by the active involvement of students in the working committee and in the activities of the program.

In addition, Fully Residential Schools' International Symposium provides an opportunity to more students, especially RS students and students from other countries in general to participate in an international program that allows them to interact, think globally and apply the knowledge gained from the program which has close reference to the country's cultural norms as it is the basic principle of the program.


Objectives 

• Polish talents and leadership skills among students based on the proposed theme which is Global Culture Generates World Unity.
• Facilitate potential national leaders to respect the culture and heritage of a nation because it is a prerequisite for a harmonious development of society and nation.
• Promote awareness and understanding among students that culture and heritage are interrelated and should be respected, preserved and kept in the progress of the race because that aspect is the identity of a nation. 

Aim

The main goal of Fully Residential Schools' International symposium is to produce world-class leaders. Therefore, this programme has created space and opportunities for students to exchange ideas, experiences and sharing knowledge to train oneself as a leader by applying the skills of effective communication, management, public-speaking, leadership, social ethics and protocols, creative thinking and others.

IMPORTANT DATES

Online Registration Due ate    : 10/02/2012

Abstract Submission Due date  : 17/02/2012

Full Paper Submission  Due date  : 02/03/2012

Payment : USD 100/group ( 4 students+ 1 escort teacher)

Payment Due date : 02/03/2012

The main theme is Global Culture Generates World Unity. However, innovative contributions that do not fit into these areas will also be considered since they might be of benefit to symposium attendees. Acceptance will be based primarily on originality, significance and quality of contribution.

Sub-themes for this symposium include, but are not limited to: 

• Cultural GlobalisationCultural Diversity
• Cultural Preservation
• Culture and Language
• Culture and Economy
• Cultural Awareness and Respect
• Youth and Culture
• Socialisation of Culture
• Arts and Culture
• Food and Unity

Rozila and I auditioned the candidates and we were pleased to see enthusiastic students trying their best to vie for the four seats available. More than 30 students came for the audition. Congratulations to the four students selected :

1.  WAN NAZIRA EDORA WAN KAMARULBAHARIN (4 AlKhawarizmi)
2.  IZZATI NORAZMI (4 As Syafie)
3.  MUHAMMAD HAFIZ ABDULLAH WAHAB (Al Farabi)
4.  MUHAMMAD NURAZWAN RAHIM (Al Bukhari)

Let's hope Sasemians will do us proud :)
 

For more information, go to http://frsis.mozac.edu.my/

The Thinking Teacher

Tired?

This is not typical of me but I truly feel exhausted this week...In the past three weeks, I've managed to complete the panel's strategic plan and bound them, done the 1Target compositions mapping out and emailed to teachers in the panel, completed all scheme-of-work, PLAN-J for all the classes I'm teaching, completed the SOMETHING XTRA module for Forms 4-5 and now am marking the last pile of journals on my table. It feels great to have that sense of accomplishment though and to clear the clutter on the table...

A bit on my classes:

1 Qayyim is pretty quiet..sometimes I think they are terrified of me :) or maybe I speak too fast. However, they are able to follow the lessons thus far. We've been focusing a lot on grammar lately. 4 Syafie is a friendly lot and I enjoy teaching them. The same goes to 4 Bukhari. However, the girls are a tad Q.U.I.E.T. Don't ask me why-fear of me too or just plain shy? Time will tell. The fourth formers have just been around for two weeks and they're looking forward to the closing ceremony of their Orientation Week tonight between 9.30-11.00 p.m. Today they're busy with rehearsals for the special night. I have to say that we have been in school till late almost every day that I haven't got round to doing personal stuff-the haircut I badly need, the grocery shopping, bank matters etc...dear God I have tomorrow (Sunday) and I've promised mum that I will visit her on Saturday and stay for the night. But with the orientation ceremony finishing at 11 p.m tonight.. looks like it has to be postponed yet again.

Interestingly, there's this gentle reminder staring at me:

• Work is never ending. You can never finish work.
• The interest of the client is not more important than your family.
• If you fail in life, your boss or client will not be the people to give a helping hand. Your family and close friends do.
• Life does not mean coming to the office, going home and sleeping, You need to socialise, exercise and relax.
• A person who sits in the office till late is not a hardworking person. He is a fool who does not know how to manage work within the stipulated time.
• There's more to life than just work.

 How's that as a reminder to us all that there are more important things in life?

The Thinking Teacher

English Slot: If You don't Use It, You Lose It, Form 4 Orientation

Date: 7th Feb 2012 (Tuesday)
Time: 8.00-10.30 a.m

Venue: Khalifah Hall, SASEM

A beautiful morning greeted students and teachers in Sasem today. Despite it being a public holiday, all English teachers, Rozila, Syamsul, Azhar and I conducted a two-and-half hour session with all Form 4 students in Khalifah Hall. For starters, I did a session called "Mingle" to break the ice with the accompaniment of 'Moves like Jagger' on the blaring CD. Although the group consisted of 156 students, they carried out the activity wonderfully using English to greet their friends. The second session, 'My Story', was handled by Rozila and Azhar and students had to opportunity to show their creativity with newspapers. Finally, Saymsul handled the 'Vocabulary Balloons' session for the last half hour. I did a brief summation of the whole morning's event and hope that students have benefited from it. Thanks to all teachers and students for their commitment, not forgetting my video man, Rasyad (son) for capturing the moment. Way to go English panel :)

The Thinking Teacher